Children in the country are rated among the most stunted in the world in a report from WaterAid which cites a shortage of clean water and decent sanitation as one of the main reasons for the root cause, widespread malnutrition. PNG rates fourth on the international development charity's list, while nearby Timor Leste is at the top. More than two in four of the child population there are considered to be suffering from restricted growth, and the knock-on effects on their physical, cognitive and emotional development. The chief executive of WaterAid Australia, Paul Nichols says while the general population might not make the connection between water quality, poor sanitation and child development, governments certainly should.